Hotel Booking Convenience with Hotel Booking Engines

Online services become a part and parcel of our life, whether it is hotel booking or theater reservation or restaurant seat reservations. Where ever you want to go you can book your place from your home with an internet connection. Through online booking hotels and restaurants can benefit a lot and they can avoid middlemen and get more profits. On the other hand, the competition can be well tackled and the hotels and resorts become more customers friendly to serve better.

 IT is not only beneficial for hotels and resorts, nowadays almost all services including car rentals and automobile services are can be booked online. Entertainment industry gets more benefit than any other industry as the people want to enjoy the full comfort of enjoying something they want. When we avoid such hassles like 11th-hour embarrassments and of course losing the day due to the filled positions in any entertainment industry, it adds pleasure of getting what we want.

Online hotel booking engines serve people irrespective of the location where they are. Even if you are from the other part of the world you can book a hotel room and other services like spa entry and sports events, resort reservations, restaurant table bookings, cinema hall seat reservations etc. In the future there will not be any service left with online booking. Online booking makes it possible the service providers serve with minimum inventory and safe their money from over-investing. Accurate service proves to be economical and beneficial to create more wealth to serve better. 

For the people, those who book online, the hotel won’t charge you more adding the commission to be paid to the middlemen or any other means of intermediary agents. Probably in the competitive world you may get some discounts and gifts from the hotel or any other administration for online booking. You can book almost all the services available with the hotel and never miss a valued service and a maximum discount from the hotel or resort. Online booking service engines are more popular now and become a day to day need for any person interacting with the rest of the world.

The hotel administration must put all the information about the rates and discounts available at the time of booking. It can be service tax information or a off seasonal discount as well as climatic conditions and the places of tourist information nearby the hotel or the travel packages offered by the hotel administration itself and the taxi or any other means of transport facility available from the hotel. Pick up and drop facilities from airport and insurance details for the visitor luggage can be added on the information side to provide a complete picture on the hotel offerings.

To know more about the hotel bookings and reservations in India, you may please call us at any time.  

Travelling with profits out of travel expenditure

Travelling off season is cheap to any country as the hotels and other accommodation facilities like resorts offer discounts and gifts for the visitors. Travel packages and tour operators offer amazing discounts on their regular plans. The other benefit of off-season travel is that you can explore the places of tourism interest without crowd. You can take your own time to stay and understand the place’s importance and sceneries around there. Remote places won’t be covered by the travel agencies at the seasons, but they offer to reach out on off season times as the urgency will not be there for the next trip they are going to conduct.

You can get up to 50% discounts on almost all facilities like travel charges, spa entries, restaurant food items. European country travel houses offer more and more discounts at winters as people stay in the homes and avoid tough climatic conditions. You won’t meet any crowded places in hotels and you will get easy accommodation and economy rooms with the same amenities of premium rooms on seasonal timings. Free entries are available at casinos and spas as well as massage parlors.

You will find less traffic in the off season and get cheaper travel rates from the local travel houses. You can enjoy exclusive treatment in offseason while there is no much competition from fellow travellers around you for the facilities to get. You can choose safe and secure locations on travel as most of the hotel rooms would be vacant on off season timings.

When you go to larger cities it is advisable to stay in the suburban areas to get cheaper accommodation on room reservations. But you need to ensure safety and should have all necessary contact numbers with you. When you go with groups and friends, you can get adequate safety. Safety in the hotels where 24 hours checkout facility available or check what is the hotel policy on accommodation and refund rates. You can be a better bargainer in offseason as the hotels and resorts are more lenient in offseason.

Weekends prove more costly than on weekdays, hence you need to book hotels and restaurants on weekdays and avoid weekend bookings.   Group kings will give you more discounts, but if you are to book a hotel room seeks travel planners assistance to get cheaper hotels in the area. Air travel will be less costly when you choose longer travel with more stoppages. Non-stop flights charge more on travel and facilities they offer. 

When you bargain, make it sure the rates are including taxes or not. Contact us to get fare deals and discounts on all seasons and off seasons.       

Canada tourism and travel packages - discounted air tickets and hotel room bookings

Canada travel agencies and travel operators, as well as, the Canada hotel, offer seasonal and off season discounts for the tourists to attract business. Since the local travel and tourism industry is very less when compared to the International tourism industry. Only the arrivals from the other world can bring the enthusiasm to the tourism industry. Many tourists coming with tourist visas wants to find a permanent job in the country and ultimately a permanent residence permit in the well-developed less populated peaceful country. 

It's an acid bog which is home to a range of unusual plants and animals, including lemmings, shrews, the carnivorous sundew plant and nine varieties of orchids. Access to the bog can be gained off Oxford St between Hyde Park Rd and Sanatorium Rd. There is also a pedestrian gate into the bog from the Oakridge Shopping Mall parking lot. Westminster Ponds Also for nature seekers, this area of woods, bogs and ponds supports a variety of wildlife, including foxes and herons. There is a viewing tower and a boardwalk around some sections of the large undeveloped area. Two thousand years ago, indigenous people camped here. There is a trail into the area, heading east out of the tourist office on Wellington Rd S. Ska-Nah-Doht Indian Village Some 32krn west of the city, Ska-Nah-Doht is a well-done re-creation of a small Iroquois longhouse community of about 1000 years ago. Guided tours are available or you can wander about yourself.

The village structures are encircled by a palisade. Outside the walls, crops the Indians would have grown have been planted and there are burial platforms. A Canada travel museum supplies more information and contains some artifacts. The site, on Highway 2, is in the wooded Longwoods Road Conservation Area which has some walking trails. It's open from 9 am to 4 pm daily throughout the summer. For the rest of the year, it's closed on weekends and holidays but call to confirm exact dates. Admission is $3. From London, take Hwy 402 to interchange 86 and then follow Hwy 2 west. Organised Tours Bus Tour Two-hour tours of the Canada city aboard British double-decker - London 231 buses depart from City Hall, 300 Dufferin Ave, twice daily from the end of June to the beginning of September. A ticket is $7.50. Boat Cruise Departing from a landing in Springbank Park, the London Princess does a number of different cruises along the river.

The basic trip lasts about 45 minutes and costs $7, with discounts for seniors, students and children. There are also Sunday brunch trips and evening dinner cruises. Reservations are a good idea. The season runs from the end of May to October. Special Events In the first week of June, there is an International Air Show, and in mid-September, the Western Fair, a 10-day agricultural and amusement event. In mid-July, watch for the Home County Folk Festival. It's held in the centre of town, in Victoria Park. There are some pretty big names on stage over the course of the four-day event, and it's free. Dance, crafts and a range of inexpensive food are also featured. Camping Within the city limits, there is convenient camping at Fanshawe Conservation Area near the Pioneer Village.

It's in the north-eastern section of town, off Fanshawe Park Rd, and is open from the end of April to mid-October. Hostels During summer Alumni House at the University of Western Ontario rents rooms. It's at the Richmond Gates, the entrance into the campus from Richmond St. It costs $32 a single ($26 for students) with a continental breakfast. Be sure to call before arriving. The bus from downtown up Richmond St goes to the university gates, a short walk to the residence. The London & Area B&B Association has a list of places, averaging $40 single, $55 to $65 double.

Canada travel agencies and travel operators

Canada travel agencies and travel operators, as well as, the Canada hotel, offer seasonal and off season discounts for the tourists to attract business. Since the local travel and tourism industry is very less when compared to the International tourism industry. Only the arrivals from the other world can bring the enthusiasm to the tourism industry. Many tourists coming with tourist visas wants to find a permanent job in the country and ultimately a permanent residence permit in the well-developed less populated peaceful country. 

The adjoining Fanshawe Park is a conservation and recreation area with swimming, walking and picnicking areas. Royal Canadian Regiment Museum Known as the RCR, this is the oldest infantry regiment in Canada. The museum has displays on its involvement in the North-West Rebellion of 1885 right through both World Wars and the Korean War.As well as the extensive displays, exhibits and dioramas, there is a gift shop with a range of military items. The museum is at Wolseley Hall National Historic Site, on the Canadian Forces Base on Oxford St E (on the corner of Elizabeth St). Admission is free. It's closed on Monday. A visit takes one to 2 hours. The University of Western Ontario North of the downtown area, the beautiful university campus is pleasant to stroll around.

Western is one of the country's larger universities and is known particularly for its business, medical and engineering faculties. The tourist office has a self-guided walking tour pamphlet outlining some history. Eldon House At 481 Ridout St N and dating from 1834, Eldon House is the city's oldest house and is now a historical museum, with period furnishings from the Victorian era. It's open afternoons only, from Tuesday to Sunday. On Tuesday it's free; otherwise a $3 charge applies. Afternoon tea is served. Guy Lombardo Music Centre At 205 Wonderland Rd S in Spring bank Park, this museum honours the late musician and native son Guy Lombardo, well known across the continent for his New Year's Eve concerts.

The collection of articles, including racing boats, and memorabilia outlines his career. Admission is $2. Note that the museum is open daily from May to September only, from II am to 5 pm. Spring bank Park Located by the Thames on the western side of the city, Spring bank is a huge, well-tended park of lawns and gardens. Within the park is Storybook Gardens, a children's play area with figures from fairy tales and a small zoo. This area has a small admission charge, but the park itself is free. Banting Museum This museum is in the house where Sir Frederick Banting, Nobel Prize winner and the co-discover of insulin, once lived and worked. The museum outlines the history of diabetes and displays include a doctor's office from the 1920s. 

The museum is at 442 Adelaide St N and is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 4.30 pm. Admission is $3 adult, less for students and seniors. Children's Museum Walkable from downtown, the London Regional Children's Museum at 21 Wharncliffe Rd S provides a variety of hands-on exhibits for kids to play and learn with. It's open every day from 10 am to 5 pm (from noon Sunday) and admission is $4 child or adult. Sifton Bog This site is a little different - in fact, it's unique in southern Ontario. 

The vast Canada hosts unbelievably wonderful places to visit and watch.   

For your hotel bookings and discounted air tickets, you may please contact local approved flight agencies and contractors. When you are ready to bargain, you can get much less price on hotel room bookings and stays in the country.  

Canada tourism and travel with money saving discounts on hotel room bookings and air tickets

Canada tourism industry grows faster than expected. Unexplored places of tourism interest now exposed to the tourists and many travel agencies and tour operators offer discounted air tickets for the travelers. Hotels in Canada also offered discounts and gifts to the people visiting Canada. 

The Gallery Stratford 2 FestIVal Theatre 3 Stratford-Perth Museum 6 Tom Patterson Theatre 9 Tourist Office 11 Shakespearean Gardens 12 Court House 13 Post Office 14 City Han 15 Avon Theatre 20 Tourism Stratford 22 Bus NIA Rail Station Organised Tours Festival Tours runs trips around town several times daily through summer, using red British double-decker buses. The tour lasts one hour. Ask at the tourist information office for details. Boat Trips A small tour boat runs around the lake and beyond the Canada Festival Building from behind the tourist office. The 35 minute trip costs $6 and the boat glides by parkland, houses, gardens and swans. Also at the dock, canoes and paddle boats can be rented. Shakespearean Festival Begun humbly tent in 1953, the shows attract international attention. The productions are first rate, Hire the costumes, and respected actors there featured. The season runs from May to October each year.

Tickets for plays cost between $37 and $67, depending on the day, seat and theatre, and go on sale mid-January. By show time, nearly every performance is sold out. A limited number of rush seats are available at good reductions, and for some performances, students and seniors are entitled to discounts. Less-costly tickets are available to the concerts, lectures (including a fine series with well-known writers) and other productions, which are all part of the festival. Bargain-hunters should note that the two-for-one Tuesday performances offer good value. Write for the festival booklet, which gives all the details on the year's performances, dates and prices. Also in the booklet is a request form for accommodation, so you can organise everything at once. There are three theatres - all in town - that feature contemporary and modern drama and music, operas and works by the Bard. Main productions take place at the Festival Theatre, with its round, protruding stage.

The Avon Theatre, seating 1100 people, is the secondary venue and the Tom Patterson Theatre is the smallest theatre. Aside from the plays, there are a number of other interesting programs to consider, some of which are free; for others a small admission is charged. Among them are post-performance discussions with the actors, Sunday morning backstage tours, warehouse tours for a look at costumes etc. In addition, workshops and readings take place. Because of the number of visitors lured to town by the theatre, lodging is, thankfully, abundant. By far the majority of rooms are in and the homes of residents with a spare room or two. In addition, in the higher price brackets there are several well-appointed, traditional-style inns in refurbished, century-old hotels.

For your hotel bookings and discounted air tickets, you may please contact local approved flight agencies and contractors. When you are ready to bargain, you can get much less price on hotel room bookings and stays in the country.  

Canada travel and tourism places of interest - hotel bookings and cheap air ticketing

Canada travel agencies and travel operators, as well as, the Canada hotel, offer seasonal and off season discounts for the tourists to attract business. Since the local travel and tourism industry is very less when compared to the International tourism industry. Only the arrivals from the other world can bring the enthusiasm to the tourism industry. Many tourists coming with tourist visas wants to find a permanent job in the country and ultimately a permanent residence permit in the well-developed less populated peaceful country. 

ELORA Not far from Kitchener-Waterloo, northwest up Hwy 6 from Guelph, is this small, heavily touristed town. Named after Elora in India, with its famous cave temples, this was once a mill town using the falls on the Grand River, which runs through town. The falls, the old mill, the pleasant setting and the nearby gorge and park make the town a popular day trip for both out-of-province visitors and Ontarians. The main streets are Metcalfe, Mill and Geddes Sts, all right by the mill and river. There is a tourist office in the Elora Civic Centre, MacDonald Square, at the junction of Metcalfe and Geddes Sts. Not far from town at the Elora Gorge Conservation Area the Grand River flows through a deep limestone canyon.

Much of the area is the park, and trails lead to cliff views and caves at the water's edge. Riding the water in a tire tube is a fun way to spend a warm afternoon and rentals are available. There are also picnic areas in the park, camping and trout fishing. The Grand River is also good, for canoeing, and overnight trips are possible. You can paddle along the river all the way to Lake Erie. More information is available at the park. About a dozen blocks east of town along Mill St E is the Elora Quarry Conservation Area - worth a look and, better, a swim. Plenty of small stores in Elora offer crafts, jewellery, paintings and pottery, much of it produced by the numerous local artisans. Special Events The Elora Festival, an annual music festival, is held during the last weeks of July and into the first two weeks, The Grand River of August.

The music is primarily classical (with an emphasis on choral works) or folk. Some of the concerts are held at the quarry, with performers playing in the middle of the water on a floating stage. On a warm summer night with the stage lit up, it really is an impressive experience. Other events include the annual summer Antique Show & Sale, in May, the Open House Tour, when many of the older local houses are open to the public and the October Artist Studio Tour. There is a large campground at the Elora Gorge Conservation Area which, though usually full on holiday weekends, has a number of sites that can be reserved one week in advance. There are quite a few in and around town.

For accommodation assistance, visit the tourist office. Average price is $55 for two with breakfast. One to try that's central and costs a little less than the rest is Speers Home just off the main street. Rooms are $40/50 for singles/doubles. Hornsby Home gets great reviews and is also close to the centre with single/doubles from just $35/45. The Gingerbread House has rooms, but the deluxe features, special breakfasts, fine furnishings and decor put it into a considerably higher price bracket. The Elora Mill Inn is the prestige place to stay in town; it offers a convenient location, views of the river, fireplaces and a dining room but you may have to look in both pockets to pay the bill. 

Canada tourism and travel packages discounted air tickets and hotel rooms

Canada tourism industry grows faster than expected. Unexplored places of tourism interest now exposed to the tourists and many travel agencies and tour operators offer discounted air tickets for the travelers. Hotels in Canada also offered discounts and gifts to the people visiting Canada. 

There is no public transportation to Elmira. About 7km east in West Montrose is the only covered bridge remaining in Ontario. It was built in 1889 and is known as the Kissing Bridge. A Local Drive past Kitchener (going west) to the Doon exit and go to New Dundee. From there, travel north-west to Petersburg, where you'll find the Blue Moon Pub. 

Then on to St Agatha, with the church steeple, followed by St Clements and Linwood - both are Mennonite towns with some interesting stores. Drive back east to Hawkersville, where there is a blacksmith's shop, and take a gravel road with fine scenery to St Jacobs. Continue north up to Elmira and over to West Montrose. The Pub Crawl Just west of Kitchener- Waterloo, four fine historic country taverns can be found in four neighbouring villages. Each one is from 1875 or earlier and offers atmosphere, good food and something to wash it down with.

Begin in Petersburg, at the Blue Moon, a Georgian-style inn dating from 1848. It's off Hwy 7 and 8 at Regional Rd 6 and 12. Next stop to the west is EJ's in Baden, again with some intriguing original decor, including hand-painted ceiling tiles. In fine weather, there is a patio as well. Beer from around the world is offered on tap. Kennedy's Country Tavern is back east and north (not far from stop one - remember to designate a non-drinking driver, it's getting confusing). Kennedy's, in the village of St Agatha, has a bit of an Irish slant, although much of the food shows a German influence. Last stop is the Heidelberg Restaurant & Brew Pub in Heidelberg, north from St Agatha, at the junction of Hwys 15 and 16. Here, in the middle of Mennonite country, a German country-style meal can be enjoyed with Bavarian beer brewed on the premises.

The Heidelberg was built in 11138. Stops one and two are closed on Sunday, Call anyone of them and ask about the bus tours which sometimes do the circuit. Cambridge South of Kitchener, Cambridge is an old mill town now grown large, set alongside the Speed and Grand rivers. There isn't South-Western On ln,l much to see, but the redeveloped area known as Riverbank is pleasant tracks shoppers. Many of the Canada businesses once drawn by the power from the mill now contain factory outlets. Canada Cambridge has II Scottish background, and this is celebrated with the annual summer Highland Games. 

Canada tourism- travel packages- flight tickets for travellers- discounts on hotel room bookings

In Canada, a bed is $15 but they are usually taken by students through the school year. The host, Joan, is a world-travelled author with a lot of unusual ideas she'll happily discuss. The University of Waterloo has summer accommodation. The cost for singles/twins is $37/59 but $30 for a student single. Meals are available on the campus at several outlets. Free parking and use of the swimming pool are included. Buses run frequently to the campus. At Wilfrid Laurier University, contact the housing office at 75 University Ave West. Singles/doubles are $24/40. Rooms are available from I May to 15August but are generally used by those attending conferences.

The dining room is open in the summer, too. The tourist office can help with current. River Breeze in Kitchener is good at $50 double with a full breakfast and a bonus is  the use of laundry facilities. It overlooks the Grand River and there is a pool, too. During Oktober fest, many people rent out rooms. For information, call K-W Oktoberfest Inc. Hotels For the dollar conscious, a central hotel is not on the cards. For those holding a different hand, the Walper Terrace Hotel is central. It's an old place that has been restored and has won a heritage award. It has over 100 rooms, starting at $80/90 - not bad compared to the other top-end places in town. And there's a good deli right in the hotel, too.

Motels 

Motels are numerous, good and clean. Most of them are on Victoria St N (1lwy 7), which runs east-west off King SI, just north of downtown Kitchener. One of the cheapest is the Mayflower which costs just $38 for singles or doubles. The Victoria Motel, newer, more modern and has rooms,

There are many restaurants on or near Knl St in Kitchener. Just Desserts has pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and desserts all under $10. Howl at tile Moo" has something for everyone with finger foods, chicken, beef, kids menu, patio and live music. Most meals are under $15. There are quite a few European delis in Kitchener. Fiedler is stacked full of cheeses, rye breads, sausages and salamis. After the nose gets a whiff of the Cafe Mozart  the mouth will soon be munching on pastries, cakes or something covered with chocolate.

It's not far from the bus station and is open until 10 pm (except Friday and Saturday nights, when it serves late-night snacks until midnight). For solid German fare try the Concordia Club (429 Ottawa St S) for lunch or dinner. Live entertainment is included on Friday and Saturday nights, but the restaurant is closed on Sunday. It's a popular site during Oktoberfest. The Uptown area in Waterloo on King St N has numerous eateries and bars. The AU Baba (130 King St N) is a steak house which has been in business since the 1960s. Entertainment Bars The Heuther Hotel on the Comer of King and Princess Sts in Waterloo is a good brew pub despite one room featuring daytime strippers. Known far and wide, Lulu's is an immense, popular dance club on Hwy 8 in Kitchener, with what is said to be the world's longest bar. The Circus Room draws a young crowd with live music Thursday to Sunday. It is free weekly with good club listings for the travellers and tourists.

Canada Tourism - travel packages-hotel room bookings- discounted air ticketing

The Canada Uptown (downtown) area of Waterloo along King St N from Bridgeport Road north to William St W is a very pleasant information Maps and information are available at the Kitchener- Waterloo Visitors & Convention Bureau, south of the centre, at 2848 King St E. From June to the end of August. it' open from 9 AM to 5 PM Monday to Wednesday, 9 am to 7 pm on Thursday and Friday and lOam to 4 pm on weekends. The rest of the year, hours are 9 am to 5 pill Monday to Friday. Farmers' Market The central market is held downtown, on the corner of King St E and Frederick St. The market began in 1839 and features the products of the Amish and Mennonites breads, jams, many cheeses and sausages, and handicrafts such as quilts, rugs, clothes and handmade toys. Whether they like it or not, it is the farmers themselves who are often the main attraction. Some of these religious people, whose ancestors were originally from Switzerland via Pennsylvania. live much as their grandparents did in the 19th century. There are also many merchants, including bakers, craftspeople and farmers, who aren't Mennonite. The market is held on Saturday from 6 am to 2 pm.

Across the street, on the corner of Kin and Benton St's a 23-bell glockenspiel at noon and at 5 pm. Joseph Schneider Haus At 466 Queen St S, not far from the market. this Heritage Canada site is the restored house of a prosperous German Mennonite. It's a Canada tourist museum depict in life in the mid-l 850s, with demonstrations of day-to-day chores and skills. Through the summer, it's open every day; the rest of the year it's closed Monday and Tuesday. Note that it is shut completely for the last week in December and for the first six weeks of the new year. There is a nominal admission of south- Western Ontario - Kitchener-Waterloo Woodside National Historic Site contains the 100- year-old mansion where former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King (Canada's 10th prime minister) once lived.

It has been restored and refurnished in upper-class 1890s style. The basement houses display on the of Mackenzie King. On weekends, you can witness demonstrations of period crafts, music and cooking by guides in costume. The park is at 528 Wellington St N in Kitchener. II's open daily and admission are $3. Universities of Waterloo & Wilfrid Laurier In Waterloo west off King StN on University Ave, these two universities sit right beside each other, and both have attractive, green campuses, The former is well regarded for its engineering; the latter specialises in economics. Canada Waterloo has an art gallery, and the free Museum & Archive of Games, which depicts the history of games around the world for the tourists and travellers. Hours vary depending on exhibits. Doon Heritage Crossroads The Doon Heritage Crossroads, south of Kitchener (20 minutes by vehicle or call for transit information), is a re-creation of a pioneer settlement circa

Canada tourism and development- travel packages-discounted air tickets-hotel room bookings

THE GRAND RIVER 

Beginning near Georgian Bay, the Grand, a Canadian Heritage River, winds its way south through Elora, and continues just to the east of Kitchener- Waterloo, eventually emptying into Lake Erie. The Grand River watershed is the largest inland river system in the southern portion of the province. Aside from the gorge conservation area listed above, there are many other parks and conservation areas located along the southern sections of the river.

Anyone of them or local Canada tourist offices should have a guide to recreational facilities along the Grand. Canoeing is possible in many sections (with rentals and shuttles); at others there are swimming facilities and walking trails. For more information contact the Canada Grand River Conservation Authority in Cambridge.

Rooms start at $150. Elora Confectioner's Delicatessen (54 Metcalfe St) has fresh sandwiches and baked goods. The Desert Rose Cafe (J 30 Metcalfe St) is good for its Mexican-influenced menu under $10. The Metcalfe Inn, on the corner of Mill and Metcalfe Sts, has an outdoor patio where beer is served. Other places along Mill St and the dining room of the Mill Inn, offer more expensive menus. At the back of Leyanders (40 Mill St), a store, is a quiet tearoom, good for afternoon cream tea with a view of the river.  The Greyhound bus connects north to Owen Sound and south to Toronto via Guelph. It stops at Little Katy Variety Store, central on Geddes St.

FERGUS

Fergus is Elora's neighbor and a quiet farming town. As the name suggests, the heritage here is Scottish, and this is best appreciated at the annual Highland Games, held during the second week of August. Included are Scottish dancing, pipe bands, foods, and sports events such as the caber toss. It is one of the largest Scottish festivals and Highland Games held in North America. St Andrew St is the attractive main street. Many of the distinctive grey buildings are made of limestone and a town oddity is the painted fire hydrants.

The tourist office is in the central Fergus Market Building along with various shops. The Templin Gardens are in the centre of town, along the Grand River. A farmers' market is held on weekends. Between Fergus and Elora Sts is the Wellington County Museum, with artifacts relating to the history of the county. Like Elora, Fergus is quite busy, and accommodation is not overly abundant. In general, costs are a little lower here. The Thompson's is a B&B within walking distance of downtown. Prices are from $40/50. The Canada Riversedge Cafe with a nice location behind the Market Building has sandwiches and a few vegetarian pasta dishes and burgers. It's open daily. The Greyhound bus which goes to Guelph where connections for Toronto can be made stops at the Highland Inn, downtown.

Canada Tourism and travel packages- hotel bookings-flight tickets- discounts

 STRATFORD With a population of 29,000, this Canada commercial centre surrounded by farmland is a fairly typical slow-paced, rural Ontario town except that it's consciously prettier than most and is home to the world-famous Shakespearean Festival. Many of the numerous older buildings in the attractive, architecturally interesting central area have been restored, and the layout along the river adds to the charm. Stratford's Avon River, with its swans and green lawns, together with the theatres help the town deliberately and successfully resemble Stratford-upon-Avon in England. London is about 60km or a 45-minute drive south-west, and Canada Toronto is about a two-hour drive east. Orientation Ontario St is the main street and everything is close to it. At the foot of Huron St is the Perth County Courthouse, one of the town's most distinctive and dominant landmarks.

Information There is a friendly, helpful and well-informed tourist office on the corner of York and Erie Sts, in the heart of town. You can see pictures of guesthouses and peruse menus from many of the town's restaurants. You can also get a free parking sign for your car. On fine days, heritage walks depart from the tourist office at 9.30 am Monday to Saturday from I July to Labour Day. With one of the descriptive maps available, you could do your own walking tour. One map, put out by the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, details some of the history and architecture of the downtown area. Don't miss out on a walk along the river where the park, lawns and theatres have been laid out in a charming and attractive manner. Between November and May, information can be obtained from Tourism Stratford at 88 Wellington St. The Gallery/Stratford This is a good art gallery in a fine old building near Confederation Park, at 54 Romeo St N.

 Featured are changing international shows of modern painting, with the emphasis on Canadian works. Three shows are presented at any given time. The gallery is closed Monday mornings and admission is $5. Stratford-Perth Museum Articles collected around the region from the turn of the century are on view at this small museum at 270 Water St. Admission is by donation. It's open from May to October from 10 am to 5 pm, but afternoons only Sunday and Monday. Queen's Park Down by the river, near the Festival Theatre, this park is good for a picnic or a walk. Footpaths from the theatre follow the river past Orr Dam and a stone bridge, dating from 1885, to the formal English flower garden. Shakespearean Gardens Just north of the courthouse by the stone bridge, these gardens on the site of an old wool mill run along the waterfront. Near the bridge is the mill's chimney and a bust of Shakespeare. Here and there, picnic table can be found.

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Camping There is camping at the Stratford Fairgrounds. The farmers' market and a number of other events take place here on the grounds, which are quite central, about seven blocks from the tourist office. There Stratford is also camping in St Marys. A good way to find an economical bed is to book through the Stratford Festival Accommodation Department at 55 Queen St. It will find a room in someone's home from as low as $35/38 a single/double if you have a ticket to a play. For a couple more dollars, breakfast can be included. Payment must be made in full when booking. The Stratford & Area B&B Association does much the same thing, but not being part of the tourism festival, its prices are higher and its members are trying to run viable businesses. William St runs along the river, across from the downtown core.

There you'll find the immaculate Burnside Guest Home. A 15-minute walk will get you to any of the theatres or the downtown area. Singles cost $50 and double $65170. There is also a cheaper but good hostel-style room downstairs for $25 per person. All rates include breakfast. Lester, the owner, is very knowledgeable about things to see and do around town. A Rover's Return Elizabeth Sty has five rooms with shared bath economically priced at $45/60. It's a 10-minute walk to downtown. Ana's B&B. 48 Rebecca StY is near the Avon Theatre. Singles/ doubles with a full breakfast are $45/65. The bathroom is shared. Acrylic Dreams, 60 Bay StY is an updated cottage from 1879 which has some pleasant little touches for guests. Costs are higher at $85/95. In the same range is Stratford Knights. 66 Britannia StY. It's away from the centre a bit, on the other side of the river, off the Mornington St. This fine old house has a pool in the yard, which guests can use.

Doubles are $92 including a continental breakfast. Hotels A possibility worth considering is a room booking at the General Hospital Residence, and no, you don't have to get hit by a car to qualify. Similar to university dorms, the small, neat rooms come with single or twin beds, a fridge and a sink. A single/twin is $50/55 and includes breakfast and taxes. Excellent weekly rates are offered. There are laundry and cooking facilities, a cafeteria and an outdoor swimming pool- all in all, a pretty fair bargain. The historic Queen's Inn, 161 Ontario StY, near Waterloo St, dates from the mid-1800s and is the oldest hotel in town. In summer, prices range from $85 double. The popular standard room with full bath goes for $95. Motels Motels are generally expensive. 

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Try the Noretta, on Hwy 7 towards Kitchener. Rooms cost from $54 a double. Majers Motel, a little farther out, has rooms for about the same price. There are other motels along here, including the attractive but more costly Rose court Erie StY. Near the tourist office, the York St Kitchen (41 York Sf) turns out excellent sandwiches ($5) and picnic plates which might include a bit of smoked salmon or corn on the cob. There is a takeout order window and the park by the river (right across the street) makes a good eating spot. It also has a few tables inside where you could try a lamb curry or pasta dish ($10). Let Them Eat Cake is good for a cheap breakfast or lunch or simply a dessert and coffee.

Visit Trattoria Fabrizio 71 Wellington StY for Italian sandwiches and pastas under $7. It also has various snacks, desserts and espresso. As befits an English-style town, there are quite a few pubs about. Canada Stratford's Olde English Parlour Wellington StY has an outdoor patio. The Queen's Inn, with several different eating rooms, has a pub for inexpensive and standard menu items including a ploughman's lunch. The Queen's Sunday and Wednesday evening buffets in the dining room are good. Dining rooms in some of the other inns also cater to the theatre crowd with more costly fare. Expensive Rundles (9 Coburg StY, where a dinner is about $55 before wine, has a good reputation. Away from the centre, over the bridge and down Huron St about 2km, Madelyn's Diner Huron StY is a friendly little place to have any meal. Breakfasts are served all day (from 7 am) and are good, as are the home-made pies. It's closed Sunday evening and all day Monday. There are a few fast-food joints and a Chinese place on Canada Ontario St heading out of town. For making your own picnic check the Franz Kissling Delicatessen.

 Bus Several small bus lines servicing the region operate out of the VIA Rail station, which is quite central at 101 Shakespeare St, off Downie St about eight blocks from Ontario St. ChaCo Trails buses connect Stratford with Kitchener, from where you can go to Toronto. They also run buses to London with Windsor connections and some other southern Ontario towns. Train There are two daily trains to Toronto from the VIA Rail station. Trains also go west to London or Sarnia, with connections for Windsor. Some 12km east of Stratford along Hwy 8, this village is geared to visitors with the main street offering numerous antique, furniture and craft shops. To the west of Stratford, St Marys is a small Victorian crossroads with a former opera house and some fine stone homes as reminders of its good times last century. The Westover Inn tucked down Thomas St, and surrounded by lawns and trees, is a quiet, five-star hotel with a dining room. Several kilometres from the town, off Hwy 7 and back towards Stratford, is the Wildwood Conservation Area. It isn't particularly attractive for the Canadian tourists and travellers on vacation tours, but you can camp or go for a quick swim.

For better swimming, try the spring-fed limestone quarry just outside St Marys. It costs a couple of dollars and there are change rooms and a snack bar. 

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TILLSON BURG & DELHI

These two small towns are in the centre of a flat, sandy, tobacco-growing region. The number of smokers has been declining rapidly in Canada so various crop alternatives are being sought to keep the area productive. One of them is hemp. On Hwy 3 west of Delhi, there is the Ontario Tobacco Museum, with displays on the history and production of tobacco. It's open daily through summer, and on weekdays only the rest of the year. For males, casual work picking tobacco starts in mid-August. Ask at the Canada Manpower offices in these towns. Jobs last roughly a month. It's hard work, but room and board are often thrown in with the wage and you can have a good time. Watch your valuables in the bunkhouse.

LAKE ERIE SHORELINE WEST

As the shallowest of the five Great Lakes, Erie long suffered the most with pollution. However, continuing environmental work has brought the waters back from the brink. Scattered along the lake's Canadian northern shoreline, from Windsor to Fort Erie, there are government parks, some with camping, some for day-use only for the tourists and travellers from across the world. Most are busy on summer weekends. Port Dover is a busy little summer resort with a beach, riverboat tours, numerous tourist shops, a lighthouse and the large, attractive Erie Beach Hotel, with popular dining rooms, right in the heart of town.

This is also a centre for commercial lake fishing. Local restaurants specialise in Erie perch and walleye although some people are leery of eating any - Tillsonburg & Delhi of the lower Great' Lakes catch due to possible chemical contamination. The Harbour Museum details the lake's fishing industry for Canada travellers. Turkey Point Provincial Park, and even more so, Long Point are good and popular. Despite an excellent beach at Long Point, the parks along the Lake Huron shoreline are superior for swimming. Also, beware of deer ticks at Long Point; be sure to read the available information on these serious pests.

Apart from these Lake Erie recreational orcas, the region is mainly summer cottages, small towns and farmland. The shoreline itself is surprisingly scenic at points with cliffs edging turquoise waters. Port Stanley has the agreeable atmosphere or an old, second-rate summer tourist town that doesn't care to be overly pretentious. It also has enough happening to not need to pander obsequiously to its visitors. It has a fine summer programme at the Port Stanley Theatre, 302 Bridge St, several low key restaurants, cafes and a pleasing waterfront location.

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There are a sandy beach and a large dock with plenty of commercial fishing vessel traffic in Canada. A 14km portion of the old London and Port Stanley Railroad still operates, running north beyond the village of Union to St Thomas Parkside. A one-hour trip costs $9 adult or you can go longer. Some 11km west and 3km south of St Thomas, near the village of Lona, is the South wold Prehistoric Earthworks National Historic Site. Surrounded by farmland are the earthwork remains of a double-walled Neutral Indian fort from around 1500-1650. It was once a village of about 600 people. Farther west, Point Pelee National Park, on the southernmost point of mainland Canada, is a top Lake Erie attraction. It's known for the thousands of birds that show up in spring and autumn on their migrations. Up to 342 species have been observed here - about 60% of all the species known in Canada. The fall migration of monarch butterflies is a highlight.

The region also contains some plants found nowhere else in the country, such as the prickly pear cactus. There are numerous nature trails, a 1.5kmboardwalk through the marsh, forest areas and sandy beaches within the park. Bicycles and canoes can be rented in the summer although the park remains open all year. To the east, the town of Westley has some accommodation and a provincial park where a violent storm swept much of the beach away in 1998. The camping area is good though. Note that during bird migration periods, this is a relatively busy area. Hillman Marsh on the shoreline north of Point Pelee offers good bird watching, a nature centre and a walking trail. Lakeside Leamington, north-east of the park, is Ontario's tomato capital and a major ketchup producer.

There are several motels and a seasonal tourist office on the main street. It's about 40km drive straight overland from Windsor, rather than around the lake shore. Do Drop Seacliff Drive W is a Swedish/English B&B. Rates are $35/50. For accommodation assistance, call the Chamber of Commerce Monday through Friday. From here and Kingsville, ferries run to the largest island in the lake, Pelee Island. Pelee (pronounced 'pee-lee') is halfway across to Ohio, and ferries run over to the USA side as well. Canada tourism ferries run from March to the beginning of December. Tickets cost $7.50 each way for adults; cars are $17. From the island, ferries run to Sandusky, Ohio. The island is known for its good beaches and small vineyards. Visit the ruins of Vin Villa Winery and the old lighthouse.

There are tours, with tastings, of Pelee Island Winery. Quite a variety of wines is produced here, including Canadian champagne. There are a few restaurants on the island, inns, and camping. Bicycles can be rented. During midsummer, ferries and accommodation should be booked in advance.

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London is the most important town in the Canada Lake Erie area and blends a fair bit of industry and manufacturing with its insurance company head offices and one of the country's largest universities. The overall ambiance is quiet, clean and conservative. Even though the town has its own Thames River, Hyde Park and Oxford St, that's the extent of the London, England resemblance. There are a few things to see in and around town, and it might prove a convenient stopover, as it lies roughly halfway between the US-Canadian border at Detroit- Windsor and Toronto.

Orientation The main east-west street is Dundas St; Richmond St is the main north-south street. The central area is bounded by York St to the south, Talbot St to the west, Oxford St to the north and Waterloo St to the east. The northern end of Richmond St is the hip strip with a host of shops, eateries and cafes to hang out at. There are some pleasant tree lined streets and elegant Victorian houses around the edges of the downtown area. Information There is a downtown tourist office, on the main floor of City Hall, on Dufferin Ave on the comer of Wellington St. It's open from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. A second office (with the same telephone number) is at 696 Wellington Rd S between Hwy 401 and Commissioners Rd heading north into town from the highway. It's open daily from 8 am to 8 pm in summer (weekends only otherwise) and also has provincial information.

London Museum of Archaeology 8&Lawson Indian Village Both an educational and a research facility affiliated with the university, the museum displays materials and artifacts spanning 11,000 years of Native peoples' history in Ontario. Adjacent to the museum building is an active dig of a Neutral Indian village of about 500 years ago. Parts of the village, including a longhouse, have been reconstructed. Special events are scheduled through the year and some displays in the museum are changed regularly. A gift shop offers crafts such as baskets, quill boxes and pottery. Well, worth a visit, the museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. The Indian village is open daily from May to September.

An adult ticket is $3.50 and there are senior, student and family rates. The address is 1600Attawandaron Rd, north-west of the university. Take the Orchard No 31 bus from downtown. Fanshawe Pioneer Village On the eastern edge of the city, at the 22- building Pioneer Village, staff in costume reveal skills and crafts and give a sense of pioneer village life in the 19th century. There is a tearoom at the site, or you can bring your own picnic. Tickets are $5 for adults, less for students and kids, and there is a family rate too. The Canada tourism site is open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 am to 4.30 pm I May to 20 December. The entrance is off Fanshawe Park Rd just east of Clark Rd. 

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Entertainment Parks Sportsworld is a massive entertainment park containing, among other diversions, a water slide, wave pool, go-kart track, video arcades and restaurants. tickets are available. Canada Bingeman Park on the River offers much the same thing, but l bn has 600 camp sites.  The station is at 15 Charles St W in Kitchener, a five-minute walk from the centre. There are frequent services to Guelph and Toronto and around five buses a day to London. Train There are two VIA Rail trains a day to Toronto and one hI l.ondon with a change for Windsor. The station is on the corner of Victoria and Weber Sts, an easy walk north of downtown Kitchener, See under St Jacob's for train service from Waterloo to this nearby Mennonite village.

Canada Tourism never ends without visiting Kitchener Waterloo - AROUND KITCHENER-WATERLOO St Jacobs About 15km north of town (take King St N) is St Jacobs, a small historic village with a busy mix of traditional Mennonites tourists. Numerous arts and crafts and in shops housed in original buildings dating from the 19th century line the main street, King St. See the Meeting Place, a very good interpretive centre on the Mennonites and their history at 33 King St. It's open daily through summer (afternoons only on Sunday). Through the winter, it's closed weekdays. Admission is by donation, At 8 Spring St, the Maple Syrup Museum and Antique Market has exhibits on the production of this Canadian speciality. The museum is open daily all year, except for Monday in January and February.

The St Jacobs Farmers' Market is a country version of the Kitchener farmers' market, with horse-and-buggy sheds still in place. It's 2km south of the village and is open Thursday from 7 am to 3 pm and Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm year-round. There's also a flea market here and on Tuesday and Thursday cattle are auctioned next door at the Livestock Exchange. More authentic (and cheaper) is the less touristy Saturday Waterloo Market aeross the street. For cheap brand-name, goods check the nearby St Jacobs Factory Outlet Mall. The St Jacobs B&B Association can fix you up with singles/doubles averaging $55/65. In town, Benjamin's is an upmarket inn with a good dining room. The Jakobstettel deluxe guesthouse is another higher end, well-established place to lay the head. Whether you stay or not, a visit to the Stone Crock Bakery on King St near the comer of Albert St, should be considered.

The Waterloo-St Jacobs Railway operates a 1950s-style train between here and Waterloo from April to December, but the schedule varies so call. A day pass is $9. In Waterloo, the station is at 10 Father Bauer Drive. Elmira Some 8km north ofSt Jacob's up Hwy 86 is Elmira. It's less touristy than St Jacob's; more a real, working country town but with a significant Mennonite population. In Canada, at 10 Church St W, the Old Town Village Craft Market has some Mennonite goods including fine quilts which are not cheap, as well as other crafts, furniture and antiques. Further along at 58 Church St W, is the Elmira Mennonite Church and cemetery. Oddly juxtaposed are the modem, suburban-like townhouses across the street. In spring, the Maple Syrup Festival, with street activities and pancake breakfasts, is considered the province's biggest and best-attracting thousands of visitors. The area has quite a few B&Bs, many on farms and with owners who speak German. To locate one, call the Elmira Chamber of Commerce at 5 First St. Rates start at $45/65 for singles/doubles.

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The 23 buildings including a general store, workshops and a sawmill. There is also a model of an original Russian Mennonite village and a replica of an 1856 railway. To get to the site, go down King St, turn right on Fairway, left at Manitou St and left again at Homer Watson Blvd. Admission is $5, less for students, seniors and families. It's open daily from May through August and on weekdays during the winter. Special events are often held on weekends. The Centre in the Canada Square On the corner of Queen and Ellen St s is the performing arts complex, with an art gallery and a theatre. 

Homer Watson House & Gallery One of Canada's first notable landscape painters is the subject of this quite small, specialised museum. Watson once lived here, and there are various pieces relating to his life and work. The museum at 1754 Old Mill Rd is open every afternoon from April to December (but is closed Monday). Organised Tours For getting around to some of the area attractions like St Jacob's or Elora, consider the quite reasonably priced half and full day van trips offered by Visa Traveller.

Special Events Some of the major events held here are: May Mennonite Relief Sale It is a large sale of home-made foods and crafts and also includes a quilt auction. It's held on the last Saturday in May in New Hamburg, 19km west of Kitchener- Waterloo. June Summer Music Festival This festival is four days of free or low-cost outdoor music concerts held at the end of June at venues around the downtown area. August Busker Carnival An annual festival of street entertainers which takes place in late August. Some of these performers are very good and the whole thing is free. October- Octoberfest The event of the year, Oktoberfest, the biggest of its kind in North America and said to be the largest outside of Germany, attracts 500,000 people annually.

The nine-day festival starts in early to mid-October and includes 20 beer halls, German music and foods, and dancing. A huge parade wraps up the festivities on the last day. For more information, Upon arrival, visit one of the reception areas for a map, tickets, information and all the details on how to tie on your stein so you don't lose it. Reservations for accommodation during the festival should be made well in advance. For getting around, there is a free bus in addition to the usual city buses in Canada. Hostels Backpackers' has a basic hostel here, the Waterloo International Home Hostel Albert StY, very close to the University of Waterloo.

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The inside of the nearby pseudo-Gothic Garrison Church, built between 1840 and 1843, is adorned with the dusty flags of the British regiments who once worshiped here; the church is still used by the Australian Army. 

The main commuter terminal for harbor ferries, Circular Quay is also the only place Sydney's bus, ferry and train services intersect (it was originally called Semi-Circular Quay, which makes a lot more sense). To confuse visitors, its five wharves are numbered from two to six - Wharf 1 having succumbed to the gentrification of Circular Quay East.

Opposite the wharves, the imposing colonial Customs House building is now a cultural and gallery for those who dare, the Harbor Bridge Climb affords unparalleled views across central Sydney and the Opera House on Bennelong Point.  Diamu means "I am here" in the language of Sydney's traditional owners, the Yura houses the Australian Museum's collection of indigenous art and cultural exhibits from Australia and the South Pacific, the largest of its kind in Australia.

From The time to time the gallery hosts free cultural programs, including concerts and Aboriginal storytelling. Past Circular Quay, in Bennelong Point, is the pearl-like sails of Australia's most famous urban icon, the Sydney Opera House. Inlaid in the paving from the Quay towards the Opera House are tributes to writers,Who are from or have written about Australia, among them Banjo Patterson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Ted Hughes (of The Fatal Shore), 

Mark Twain, and dozens of others.

 Although the first Opera House performance was in 1960, when militant unionists invited black American singer and activist Paul Robeson to sing at the building site, work wasn't completed until 1973. The building has weathered heavy criticism over its design, its cost ($105 million vs. an original budget of $6.7 million,) and its acoustics. The design has since grown on Sydneysiders, the interior has recently been overhauled and its acoustics fine- tuned. 

In addition, free lunchtime organ recitals in the 25-m-high (85-ft) Concert Hall, which seats 2,700, have opened it to the public.

The Opera House now holds 3,000 opera, theater, dance and concert performances a year. Guided one-hour tours depart from the tour office on the lower forecourt from 9 AM to 4 PM, except during performances or rehearsals. Built during the Crimean War in 1857 as a defense post against any possible Russian invasion, Fort Denison sits incongruously on tiny Pinchgut Island, east of the Opera House. It’s One O'clock Cannon is still fired daily.

The island was once used to punish recalcitrant convicts. Marooned here in chains, they were given meager supplies of bread and water, hence the island's name. There are tours to the island from Circular Quay, but you get a reasonably good view of it from the Manly, Rose Bay or Watsons Bay ferries. 

Darling Harbor 

A lot of money has been spent on attracting tourist dollars to the newly developed Darling Harbor area, easily reached by Monorail from the city center. It suffers a little from its very commercial orientation and the monolithic Star City casino complex Pyrmont Street, open 24 hours and adds the little charm to the area.

Nevertheless, some of Sydney's must-sees are in the Darling Harbor area. Although the restaurants in the Harborside Marketplace are average and over- priced, the wide boardwalk is pleasant on a warm evening, with the city skyline sparkling across the small harbor. Across the Monorail walk-bridge, the Cockle Bay development boasts better restaurants and a couple of urban-chic bars. A celebration of science, technology, and popular culture, the ever-changing Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo, is housed in a converted power station.

Its dynamic exhibitions include hands-on interactive displays often combining videos and computer gadgetry. Open daily 10 AM to 5 PM; adults $8, children $5. Exhibitions at the National Maritime Museum Murray Street range from Aboriginal canoes to First Fleet and more modern naval vessels. Most memorable, though, are tours on the working vessels moored outside: a Vietnamese refugee boat, the 1983 America's up winning Australia racing yacht. Plexiglas tunnels give a fish-eye view of the harbor at the Sydney Aquarium Pier, Darling Harbor. 

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WHAT TO SEE AT SYDNEY

Do The Rocks and Circular Quay Australia's first permanent British settlement grew on Sydney Cove's rocky peninsula. Hence the Rocks, Australia's oldest precinct is built around winding streets connected by flights of narrow stone steps. It's scrubbed cobblestone streets, converted warehouses, historic buildings and convict- built terraces now draw in the tourists with an exhausting number of art, craft and souvenir shops and tempting cafes and restaurants.

The Sydney Visitor Centre in George Street provides useful maps and staff are exceptionally helpful. A six-story art deco building along the water- front, the Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George Street, is bright and stylish. Its permanent displays cover painting, sculpture and mixed media, as well as cutting-edge computer animation. They have an energetic program of temporary exhibitions. Aboriginal artists are particularly well represented. Closed Tuesdays; otherwise it's open daily 9 AM to 4 PM; entry $9. Sydney and Northern New South Wales  Inner Sydney's oldest surviving house, Cad- man's Cottage C (02) 92478861,110 George Street, was built on the original shoreline in 1816- John Cadman moored his boat out front, which gives an idea of how much today's Circular Quay encroaches on the harbor.

Open 9 AM to 5 PM; free entry. Further down George Street, colonial ware- houses dating from 1830 make up Campbell’s' Storehouse, now a row of interesting-but-expensive waterfront restaurants. The fabulous views of Sydney Cove, the Harbor Bridge, and the Opera House are well worth the price of a coffee and cake though. Nearby Macquarie Point is the place for the classic snapshot of Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. The Sydney Harbor Bridge took nine years to build, and 11 workmen fell to their deaths during construction. It opened in 1932. The two pylon lookouts C (02) 92186888 are open daily, 10 AM to 5 PM - it's a 200-step climb to the top. Enter via stairs on Cumberland Street, The Rocks, or from Milsons Point on the North Shore.

Crocodile Dundee actor Paul Hogan once worked as a Harbor bridge painter and returned to inaugurate the vertigo-inducing Harbor Bridge Climb.  Outfitted in stylish blue overalls and a chunky harness, climbers edge their way over arches, ladders and catwalks to the summit, 134 M (440 ft) above the water. They're rewarded with 360-degreeharbor views and the right to say "I did it." Prices vary from $100 and $150 per climb (it's cheaper to do it during the week). But be careful, Sydney and Northern New South Wales SYDNEY apparently the exhilaration can go to your head: over 100 marriage proposals have been made at the summit so far.

Views from under the Moreton Bay fig trees on Observatory Hill, the highest point in the city, are especially lovely at dusk, which is also the best time to visit the 1858 Sydney Observatory C (02) 9217 0485. Its heritage exterior belies the twenty- first-century technology within. During the day visitors can view solar systems up to 4.5 million light years away and at night zoom in on Neptune, The permanent Sydney exhibition includes interactive displays and compares the Greek mythology of the northern sky with the Aboriginal mythology of Australia's southern sky. Free entry 2 PM to 5 PM weekdays, 10 AM to 5 PM weekends, night programs vary but generally cost around $7. 

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SYDNEY Travel INFORMATION

Britain later decided to establish a penal colony in New Holland, as Australia was then known, Cook proposed Botany Bay as an ideal site. But on arriving with the First Fleet in 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip was apparently not convinced of Cook's choice. The fleet waited six days while Phillip explored the surrounding coastline, until finally, on January 26, 1788, he declared Port Jackson to be "the finest harbor in the world" and sailed the fleet through its headlands.

Once ashore, Phillip raised the Union Jack and proclaimed the Colony of New South Wales in the name of King George, and him- self Governor of it. Phillip established his colony on lands controlled by Yura (alternatively spelt Eora or lora) clans - some of the rock carvings in Sydney are over 40,000 years old. Although he endorsed a policy of non-violence towards the Aborigines, the settlers cleared the Yura's forests, restricted their access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds, and even pilfered their fishing nets and baskets and eventually their women.

Retaliation was inevitable. Isolated attacks were prevented from escalating into full-blown warfare by a smallpox epidemic in'1789, which almost annihilated the Aboriginal population (influenza, pneumonia and tuberculosis added to the devastation). Guerrilla attacks continued, though, led by angered warriors like Pemulway, who speared the Governor's game- keeper in 1790 and fought against the New South Wales Corps until he was killed in 1802. Although Britain continued to transport convicts to Sydney until 1840, the colony's steady growth owed more to land grants and other schemes that attracted thousands of free settlers. 

Convicts provided the necessary labor (just below convicts on the social scale, young Aborigines were employed as servants and farmhands). Pioneers built homesteads up and down the coast, and in 1813, a track was finally cleared through the Blue Mountains, opening up the fertile plains to the west.

In 1850-1851, the news of sizeable nuggets of gold found near Bathurst changed the face of the new colony. Fortune-seekers the world over set sail for Sydney Harbor. Sydney's population doubled over the next 10 years.

GENERAL INFORMATION

 Sydney's main tourist information office is the Sydney Visitor Centre  106 George Street, The Rocks, open 9 AM to 6 PM daily; it's often referred to by its former name, The Rocks Visitor Centre.

The CityRail network operates between 4:30 AM and midnight. Lines are color-coded. They also have trains to the Blue Mountains and Hunter Valley. For other rail or bus travel, you'll need Countrylink C 132232. Curving above the Sydney city center, the futuristic 3.6-km (2.2-mile) Monorail C (02) 95522288 links a number of sights, including the Sydney Aquarium and the Powerhouse Museum. It offers good views of the harbor. Locals tend to disparage it, but the ride is pretty cool.

Tickets cost $2.50, a day pass $6. 

Displays at most bus stops provide timetable information, and Nightrider services take over from midnight. Night buses have radio links to taxi companies, so you can arrange for a cab to meet you at your destination. Bright green and yellow Air- port Express buses run every 10 minutes between 7 AM and 7:30 PM on weekdays, less often at other times. Route 300 runs from Circular Quay via George Street, Town Hall and Sydney Central stations, route 350 from Kings Cross via Oxford Street.

Star City Casino operates a covey of free shuttle buses throughout Sydney so that punters can hang onto their cash until they get there - the casino is conveniently located at Darling Harbor, so make use of the free ride. Ask if one runs nearby. It's usually easy enough to flag down a taxi in Sydney, and there are cab ranks outside most train stations and wharves. The 20-minute drive from central Sydney to the airport will cost around $20 unless it's peak hour when you can double that. Be sure to tell the driver clearly whether you're going to the domestic or the international terminal; the free shuttle service connecting the terminals takes 20 minutes.